On Thursday, 7 November, Member States called for freedom of assembly to be respected in Iraq, characterising the excessive use of violence against demonstrators as “appalling”.
“Over the course of the past month, the Iraqi people have exercised their fundamental right to gather and express their concerns. These rights must be respected, in accordance with the Iraqi constitution”, they said in a statement issued by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union.
Speaking on behalf of the EU on 5 November (see EUROPE 12363/15), Member States condemned “the excessive use of force used against demonstrators” as appalling, and stated that reported attacks carried out by armed bodies on demonstrators violated the right to peaceful assembly and to express legitimate demands.
The statement said that “the European Union expects the perpetrators of all abuses to be held accountable for their actions”, and that dissatisfaction with previous investigations into the violence employed during demonstrations should be taken into account.
The Member States also stressed that the EU is ready to support the Iraqi government in fulfilling its reform commitments and its efforts to respond to its citizens' demands, including improved governance, the creation of jobs, and an end to corruption, (see EUROPE 12296/3). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)